“I do not wish to see my tax dollars defend such a lawsuit,” she said.

One of those who had urged the city pick up the legal costs was attorney Hud Collins, who said that while he will never call him mayor again, Filner deserves the city’s representation.

“You have an absolute obligation to pick up his defense,” Collins said.

The council unanimously disagreed. Council President Todd Gloria emerged from the closed session saying the mayor deserves no help from the city.

“Bob Filner was elected to serve San Diego and its citizens,” Gloria said. “He was not elected to mistreat and disrespect San Diegans or members of his staff. The mayor has no right to expect a blank check from San Diegans to defend his egregious behavior.”

The mayor did not attend the closed-door session, Gloria said, adding that the City Council will do all it can to protect taxpayers.

“We will vigorously defend the city; the mayor has to defend himself,” Gloria said.

While the council moved to isolate Filner, the number of women accusing the mayor of inappropriate sexual behavior continued to grow.

Lisa Curtin, director of government and military education at San Diego City College, told KPBS about a meeting she had with Filner in the summer of 2011 to discuss potential uses for property near the old Naval Training Center.

After the meeting, Curtin said Filner asked to meet with her alone. He then grabbed her hand, twirled her wedding band and asked if it was real. She said it was.

“He then asked me if it could come off while I was in D.C. and if I would go out with him,” Curtin told KPBS. “I said I really didn’t think so. And at that point, he pulled my hand closer to him and he reached over to kiss me. I turned my head at that moment and on the side of my face, I got a very wet, saliva-filled kiss including feeling his tongue on my cheek.”

Curtin didn’t respond to a phone message and email from U-T San Diego seeking comment.

Curtin is now the eighth woman to publicly accuse the mayor of sexual misconduct since the scandal began July 10 when three former political allies claimed Filner sexually harassed numerous unidentified women.

The tide has continued to rise against Filner as several political leaders and organizations, including his own party, have called for the first Democratic mayor in 20 years to resign and spare the city from a long, drawn-out civic nightmare.

Filner’s refusal to step aside has led to two separate recall efforts to oust him from office. Those nascent movements would need to collect 101,597 signatures from registered city voters within a 39-day period to trigger a recall election, with a 30-day extension allowed if the bid falls shorts.

A petition could begin circulating as soon as Aug. 16 under city law.

The fallout from Filner’s scandal has begun to envelope his few remaining supporters.

Councilwoman Marti Emerald took fire Tuesday when four women criticized her during the council’s public comment period. They expressed frustration that Emerald commended Filner in a July 11 statement for the “courage” he had in admitting his mistakes.